Norvic Philatelics - GB New
Stamps

150th Anniversary of Big Ben
Commemorative Sheet: 18 September
2009

Royal
Mail marks the 150th Anniversary of the Westminster clock tower known
as "Big Ben". It was actually the great bell that was named
after the popular parliamentarian Sir Benjamin Hall, but the nickname
quickly became associated with the tower. The clock, great
bell and four quarter bells first worked together in September 1859.
Read more on wikipedia.

Royal Mail have said that these
commemorative sheets will be used "...
to mark anniversaries that never quite made it into the stamp
programme." They are A4 in size
(210 x 297mm) similar to the Smilers Sheets sold at Stampex, and those
commissioned by businesses. Whilst these were originally intended to be
used by businesses they are now mainly produced for sale to sports
fans, film fans, and collectors of general memorabilia. Being specially
commissioned, 'Business Smilers' always have an intitial selling price
well over face value, and often (but not always) command a considerable
premium on resale.

The Royal Mail Commemorative
Sheets consist of 10 x 1st class stamps, with commemorative labels and
a commemorative border. Because these are sold by Royal Mail at a
premium over the postage value, they will not
be listed in most stamp catalogues, but we understand they will be
listed in the Smilers Catalogue under the 'Commemorative Sheet'
heading.

- the clock mechanism; - the Ayrton Light which shows if
Parliament is
sitting, after dark;
- a view from the tower; - Augustus Pugin;
- Turner's
painting
The Burning of the Houses of Parliament
1835; - the clock face;
- building the tower - architects' drawing of the
new Houses of Parliament;
- the bell; - the clock tower and fireworks.

Postmarks
in use on the day of issue:

Ref L11484 above

Ref L11483 above

Ref L11482 above

Technical details:

The sheet is designed by
Creator, and printed by Cartor Security Printing. It is A4 size, 297 x
210mm. The Union Flag stamps self-adhesive with a single eliptical
perforation on each side.